Study Says Needs of Homeless Youth Unmet at Shelters
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WASHINGTON — The needs of a growing population of homeless youth are being largely unmet by programs at federally sponsored shelters, a government study released Sunday showed.
The report, conducted by the General Accounting Office at the request of Sen. Paul Simon (D-Ill.), made a distinction between runaways and homeless youths.
The study found that although homeless youths receive some assistance under the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, federally funded shelters are better prepared to aid runaways.
Congress passed legislation last year authorizing $10 million to operate transitional living programs for older teens in the homeless youth population that were to include group homes that offer help finding jobs, completing high school and managing finances.
While the study focused on the relatively small percentage of homeless youths living in federal shelters, the overall number of homeless youths in the nation is estimated to be as high as 1 million.
Because residence at shelters is limited to 15 days, long-term problems of homeless youth generally are left unsolved, the report said.
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